US Vice-President Joe Biden has landed in Melbourne with his grandaughters ahead of his three-day tour of Australia which includes the official opening of a cancer centre.

Mr Biden arrived with his three granddaughters on a 'United States of America' jet on Saturday evening and was greeted on the tarmac by dignitaries including Federal MP Josh Frydenberg and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Mr Biden took the time to properly introduce himself and greet the nine person strong welcome party as a big media pack snapped candid photos.

US Vice President Joe Biden and his granddaughters arrived in Melbourne on Saturday night

US Ambassador to Australia John Berry, Victorian Governor Linda Dessau, and other US ambassadors shook hands with the vice-president.

Mr Biden is in Australia to visit Sydney and Melbourne, where he hopes to link a cancer centre - that will host the largest cancer immunotherapy laboratory in the southern hemisphere - with a major US cancer research initiative.

The fight to cure cancer is an issue close to his heart, after his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

'When my son received what we all knew was a death sentence at one of the great cancer hospitals in the world - that he had stage 4 glioblastoma, we knew it was a virtual death sentence,' Mr Biden told Cancer researchers.

'But our whole family and he, my son, a highly decorated major veteran, attorney general of the state of Delaware - we had hope.'

Mr Biden is planning to attend Sunday's Australian Rules Football match between Carlton and West Coast at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Mr Biden is in Australia to visit Sydney and Melbourne where he hopes to link a cancer centre with a major US cancer research initiative

US Vice President Joe Biden (centre) and his granddaughters (right) are greeted by the US Ambassador to Australia Mr John Berry (left)

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said it is great Mr Biden has acknowledged the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Herald Sun.

'Mr Biden told Cancer researchers. here at the VCCC and Peter Mac is worthy of an overseas visit, I think speaks volumes to the optimism and the hope that the next great cancer breakthrough is likely to occur in this great state,' she said.